Device for preventing thumb sucking



April 1 1924.

- w. R. FARls 'nEvics FOR PREVENTING THUMB sucxme Filed Oct. 11 1922Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. rams, or eno'ron, Vermont; ASS IGNOB. on ONE-FOURTH T0 LESLIEH.

'rnonnrron, or .wnsranner, vERMo-n'r.

' DEVICE FOR PREVENTING- THUMBSUCKINGi.

Application filed October 11, 1922. Serial no. 593,787.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVIL IAM R. F ARIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Groton, in the county of Caledonia and State of Vermont,have invented certain new and useful In'iprovements in Devices forPreventing Thumb Sucking, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for discouraging or preventing thumbsucking by infants.

The general object of the invention is to provide a device designed forapplication about the upper arm of the infant and so constructed thatwhen in place it will prevent bending of the elbow to: such an extent asto prohibit the infant from placing i thumb in its mouth.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that whileit will serve the purpose stated, it will not cause annoyance by reasonof its presence or be liable to result in any injury to the arm.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that itwill permit of maximum freedom of movement of the arm without, however,permitting of movement to such position as would render the deviceineffective.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying the presentinvent-ion applied, the view illustrating the manner of its use;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device in flat form and prior toapplication to the arm;

.Fig. at is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 4=4 of Fig.2. v

The device embodying the invention may be made from aluminum or anyother light metal or from celluloid, or in fact any similar sheetmaterial found suitable for the purpose, and itis in thenature of asleeve which normally may be flat and which is adapted for applicationto and to be closed about the upper arm and of such structure.

as to serve the purpose for which designed. The device may therefore besaid to consist of an open sleeve which is indicated in general in thedrawings by the numeral 1, and this sleeve is preferably formed from anintegral sheet or blank of the selected ma-" terial and along one marginis rolled or beaded, as at 2, to avoid a sharp edge which might causeinconvenience or injury to the the points of'location of the studs 5with relation to the said portion 3. It will now be evident that byapplying the device to theupper arm and fitting it about the arm, theportion 4 may be brought into overlap ping relation to the portion 3 andthe studs 5 may be engaged through the slots 6 when, after relieving thedevice of the pressure required to cause it to encompass the arm, thetendency of the device to open, through its inherent resiliency, willresult in the shanks of the studs 5 being drawn into the narrowerportions of the slots 6 thus locking the device in closed form. The edge2 will at this time be uppermost and located near the shoulder, andpreferably a safety pin 7 is pivotally or otherwise mounted in or upon.

the beaded edge 2 and is attachable to the infants shirt substantiallywithin the arm pit, thus insuring of support of the device againstdropping down too far upon the arm and causing inconvenience when theelbow is bent.

In order that a certain freedom of movement of the elbow may bepermitted and at the same time preventing. the forearm being bent at"such angle with relation to the upper arm as to enable the child toplace its thumb in its mouth, the end of the sleeve opposite its beadedend 2 is outwardly flared or rolled along a more or less gradual curveto provide a curved guard indicated by the numeral 8, the edge of whichis preferably overturned 01' beaded as at 9 so as to preventinconvenience or injury to the infant. At the ends of the guard portion8, the edge of the sheet from which the sleeve is formed is cut inpreferably along curved lines as indicated by the numeral 10, so thatthe end of the sleeve will recede as indicated at 11 in Fig. 2, from theguard portion 8.

It will be understood from the foregoing description of the inventionand by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, that the flared portion 8 ofthe sleeve will act as a barrier outstanding at the lower end of thesleeve at the front thereof and preventing the forearm being bent up tosuch an extent as to permit the infant to bring its thumb within reachof its mouth. At the same time no inconvenience is caused due to thecurved form of the said portion and the provision of the bead along itsedge. By providing the recess 11 at the rear side of the sleeve at thelower end thereof, a certain desirable freedom of the elbow ispermitted, without, however, interfering with the effectiveness of theflared portion 8 as a guard or barrier for the forearm.

It will be understood, of course. that some fastening means other thanthe studs 5 and the key-hole slots 6 and the safety pin '7, may beemployed in their respective places of location and for the samepurposes, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Also itwill he understood that,

as this would be a common expedient, some closed about the arm and thusadapting a standard size of the device for application to infants ofvarious ages.

It will be understood that not only does the device constitute a meansfor preventing sucking of the thumb but it also inhibits nail biting andscratching of the face, While in no way interfering with perfect freedomof movement of the hand.

Having thus described the what is claimed as new is:v

1. A device for limiting limb movement comprising a sleeve forapplication to the upper arm and provided with an outwardly curvedportion at one end having its edge rounded, the said portionconstituting an abutment for the forearm when the elbow is bent, thesaid sleeve at the opposite side of its said end being cut back wherebyto provide for freedom of movement of the elbow.

2. A device for limiting limb movement comprising a sleeve forapplication to the upper arm and provided at its forward side with anabutment portion integral therewith and curving outwardly and forwardlywhereby to extend circumferentially of the forward side of the upper armand to constitute an abutment for the lower arm.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

\VILLIAM R. PARIS. [1 s.]

invention,

